The University of Florida's proposed Jacksonville graduate campus, slated for 22 donated acres in La Villa near the Prime Osborn Convention Center, has attracted local media attention, yet its exact location remained unclear. Mid-December media reports failed to address the city's plan for donating these unspecified acres, including the Prime Osborn property, to the university while simultaneously ensuring the convention center's operational capacity as we are within two years of the campus proposed opening. To clarify this situation, I contacted members of the Jacksonville City Council and Mayor Deegan's office to gain insights into the plans.

I asked, “Would you have any additional information about where the 22 acres the mayor is planning to donate to the UF Graduate campus are? According to other media reports and photos, they appear to be in the convention center's parking areas. Are there plans to shut down or replace the convention center?”

Several City Councilmembers responded.

“The decision by UF will now enable them to directly negotiate with the Administration,” said Councilman Jimmy Peluso. “There are no final decisions at the moment, but I know it is my intention to turn the Prime Osbourn back into a rail station and move the convention center to another part of the city. Clearly that would be a considerable lift, but given UFs investment into the area, I believe their intention is to use the parking area.”

Others reportedly share this vision of converting the Prime Osborn back into a train station, but would it connect to Brightline, which doesn't have a route through town. Could it be negotiated to route it through Gainesville and on to the I4 corridor connection?

“The only info I have is from publicly available info, much from the same articles you reference,” said City Councilman Will Lahnen. “I imagine Council will learn more as the new year approaches.” This raises a troubling question: how can plans for a significant project unfold when council members are not fully informed about the properties involved? How could approvals be made before the local council members knowings were being negoti which propertieated?

To dive deeper into these issues, a Freedom of Information request was submitted to the City of Jacksonville, seeking transparency about the specific addresses involved in negotiations for this donation from the city to UF, as well as any documents outlining plans for the Prime Osborn property in relation to the new campus.

I asked, “I’m requesting a copy of any documents be provided to me that list the specific addresses involved in any negotiations of the reportedly 22 acres being donated to the University of Florida in LaVilla for their campus by Mayor Deegan and the Downtown Investment Authority. Additionally, as the news reports show images that reflect that the acreage is on Prime Osborn property I request copies of any written documents addressing plans for that property in relation to the new UF campus.”

The response recieved is as follows:

“Please see below for the relevant information you requested, from an FAQ document.

These parcels are the ones being utilized right now. We will be going through the process with DIA in the new year, and these are the parcels right now.

What land is the city providing? A total of 22 buildable acres will be provided throughout the construction process. The first city-owned lots for construction will go to the DIA board in January for review, so construction can start as soon as possible in 2025.

What are the next steps?. First pieces of land will go to DIA in January. The lots going to DIA in January are below. 5 of the 6 parcels make up one lot.

Will it displace current residents? No. It’s city-owned vacant land.”

We were provided with additional plans and specific addresses were provided, which we will discuss in greater detail in future articles.

The initial phase of the University of Florida campus will occupy two vacant lots on Lee Street between Bay and West Forsyth Streets. This phased approach allows time to address concerns about the convention center's future. As a growing city, Jacksonville should aim for expanded convention space, as exemplified by the successful Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. This strategy fosters economic growth and attracts businesses, rather than requiring city officials to actively seek them out.

The potential benefits of such an investment are significant, not just for the university but for the Jacksonville community as a whole. However, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and involved in these decisions is paramount.